Thread: I bet you thought.....

Tweet

Thanks guys for the kind words. Yep Jack, Dan has been smiling a lot more lately. Part of it is seeing this 5 year old build looking like it might end sometime this year, and part of it is his new job. His last job was a killer, most days he worked from 9 am to at least 9 pm, and some nights I never saw him before midnight. He's a lot more relaxed at this new one, and I see his health improving tremendously. He now gets home at a reasonable hour and has less stress all day. Dan puts himself 110% into everything he does, and while I'm proud of his (and Don's too) work ethic, you have to balance that out or it will eat you alive.

Steve, I took the windshield to the glass shop today. They think they can just trim the top off of my old windshield to make it straight across. But if worst comes to worst I told him to just make a new one up for it.

Sounds like Pretzel has new found respect for claws. Hope your Wife is ok, it's really dangerous to get between two fighting animals. We just had a similar, but funny situation. Dan called me from work one night and said he had taken in a cat that was roaming the apartment complex. He put it in his office until he could find the owner. However, the cat for some reason flipped out and ran him out of his office, repeatedly growling and lunging at him. I went over with gloves and long sleeve sweat shirts and we finally trapped him with a cardboard box over his body. Here are two grown men afraid of a little pussy cat! We found the owner, and she said he doesn't like anyone but her. That was the understatement of the year. It was like he was possessed.



Don

Great view through the windshield Don.

All the projects seem to be coming right along. What about the '46?? I don't see it inside yet ....

Paul

Hi Paul. Yeah, the 46 is sitting next to my 27 chassis, under that cover. Maybe it will heal itself if I leave it under there long enough.

Now that it is cool enough I think I'll head over to the shop and do some sanding on my grille insert and pedals so I can shoot them gloss black. It's just been to darned hot during the day to even think of going there before 6 pm.

BTW, how is the knee?

Don

One of the things I splurged on when I built the 27 all those years ago was the grille insert. Since my 32 shell is chopped 8 1/2 inches I couldn't buy an off the shelf insert and had to have one custom made. I ended up going to Dan Fink in California and shipped my shell to him so he could make one to fit it. When it came back it was a work of art, and it has held up great all these years. This was one of the better purchases I made for the car, Fink makes some great parts.

However, it had gotten some stone chips and I also want to change the color from the red it was to gloss black, so it needed some prep work and repainting. Tonight I got it lightly sanded and scuffed, then I filled a couple of the stone chips with spot putty and sanded those down. Finally, I sprayed a little primer on the bare spots and tomorrow or so I'll shoot some black Imron on it. Once that dries I can actually put the shell on the radiator for the final time.

Here is how it looked in it's original red paint, not bad for being 20 odd years old, and a picture after I fixed some chips. I thought of painting it off white, but my Son Dan seems to think shiny black will fit the rest of the car better, so I'll trust his judgement.

Don

It must be time consuming taping off all those little spaces! But that grill sure does look nice!

Its all looking good Don, I might get a ride in both later this year

The frame kit is from australia by Roadster Ute, I used one on Sue's 29 RP, It said universal on the box but i guess they meant universal with a lot of work

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

The top frame is a kit he bought, and I'll have to ask him whose it is. I thought it came from Speedway, but not sure. I think it is from some company in Australia. I'll find out tomorrow and let you know.

Yes, it is made to fold down, but his is going to be welded solid. He revamped it quite a bit because he didn't like the way the side support bar came down into the window opening. We spent one night cutting it up and reshaping it to get it the way it is now. He never plans on putting it down, so this will work for him. He also is going to have a roll up rear window for ventilation, like you mentioned.

As it comes the frame kit isn't all that bad, but when you use it with a chopped windshield, like his, that side bar gets in the way somewhat and sticks down below the top material.

Don

Don

Thanks (USA) Steve, actually all I have to mask off is the polished SS rim around the perimeter, the rest gets sprayed, so not too bad masking wise.

Thanks (UK) Steve, yes you will get a ride in (hopefully) both this fall. Mine will be running unless something drastic happens, and as for Dans, well, we know how he might find 50 more things to do that hold it up, but I'm on him hard to get it done.

You are right about the name of the top kit he used, Kwik Top, thanks for jogging my memory. Here is some info on it Whiplash. In the interior shot you can see that bar, although the way they did their top it hid it from sight. Dans was going to be a different profile on the side so the bar ended up hanging down in the opening, unless he modified it. That is what we did.

Don

Here is the info from Roadster UTE site on the top kit:

KWIK TOP"

Universal Top Iron Kit

This Top Iron assembly is manufactured to fit all Ford Roadsters from 1928 thru 1932,

and will probably fit other makes as well.

This kit will also fit Ford Roadster pick-ups from 1928 thru 1934.

Extra holes have been drilled to allow for the differences in body & windshield dimensions,

and to allow for stock or chopped windshields.

The top can be lifted off in one piece, folded down like original, or stored in the trunk.

PRICE $495.00

Don I just had Sue's retrimmed, looks much better now I reckon.

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Thanks (USA) Steve, actually all I have to mask off is the polished SS rim around the perimeter, the rest gets sprayed, so not too bad masking wise.

Thanks (UK) Steve, yes you will get a ride in (hopefully) both this fall. Mine will be running unless something drastic happens, and as for Dans, well, we know how he might find 50 more things to do that hold it up, but I'm on him hard to get it done.

You are right about the name of the top kit he used, Kwik Top, thanks for jogging my memory. Here is some info on it Whiplash. In the interior shot you can see that bar, although the way they did their top it hid it from sight. Dans was going to be a different profile on the side so the bar ended up hanging down in the opening, unless he modified it. That is what we did.

Don

Here is the info from Roadster UTE site on the top kit:

KWIK TOP"

Universal Top Iron Kit

This Top Iron assembly is manufactured to fit all Ford Roadsters from 1928 thru 1932,

and will probably fit other makes as well.

This kit will also fit Ford Roadster pick-ups from 1928 thru 1934.

Extra holes have been drilled to allow for the differences in body & windshield dimensions,

and to allow for stock or chopped windshields.

The top can be lifted off in one piece, folded down like original, or stored in the trunk.

PRICE $495.00

Wow Steve, that top made an already perfect rod even more perfect-er. Dan and I were talking about your rods one night, you have one heck of an upholstery guy over there. The interiors he turns out for your cars are stunning and so traditional. Wish we had one like that here in the Ft Myers area, but I haven't found one yet.

That is the one area Dan is sweating because a top can either make or break a rod. He has a certain look in mind and we need to find a top notch upholsterer to do that. We have discussed putting the car on a trailer and going to Tampa, Orlando, or Miami to have one done. When we get to that stage we will have to start researching it more. There is a guy in a neighboring town that did a top on a 32 we saw at a local show, but he only works in black cloth for the top and Dan wants a white one like on Sues rod.

It's sort of funny that an upholsterer in the UK can get an interior right and we can't find one over here who knows the difference between rolls and pleats and doing a sofa.

Don

Don my guy listens to what i say which helps a lot, The trick to a great looking roof (in my opinion) is to get the 3rd bow the same height as the header bow and the 2nd bow 2" higher than the other two, also side profile has to be right with the upper side level with the top of the door, Thats how i did mine below. Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Wow Steve, that top made an already perfect rod even more perfect-er. Dan and I were talking about your rods one night, you have one heck of an upholstery guy over there. The interiors he turns out for your cars are stunning and so traditional. Wish we had one like that here in the Ft Myers area, but I haven't found one yet.

That is the one area Dan is sweating because a top can either make or break a rod. He has a certain look in mind and we need to find a top notch upholsterer to do that. We have discussed putting the car on a trailer and going to Tampa, Orlando, or Miami to have one done. When we get to that stage we will have to start researching it more. There is a guy in a neighboring town that did a top on a 32 we saw at a local show, but he only works in black cloth for the top and Dan wants a white one like on Sues rod.

It's sort of funny that an upholsterer in the UK can get an interior right and we can't find one over here who knows the difference between rolls and pleats and doing a sofa.

Don

Thanks both Don and Steve (UK) for the info and photos of your tops, Who was saying you guys were balding, your tops look good to me.
I'm surprised that the auto upholstery industry isn't as popular for the young generation to get into and learn as a trade over in the USA, maybe it is just not manly enough to know how too operate a sewing machine? As I have mentioned before,my young brother is an excellent trimmer who has had his own business where he had an excellent reputation for motorcyle,hotrod,custom and vintage car work plus the normal day to day repair work. The only thing that stops him working in that industry now is him as he burnt himself out and now works as a boat builder exporting boats all around the world. I am intending on going out to the garage today and having a play with the old solid frame from my old roof as it had excellent lines with the material on and I wish to keep that look if I can. My problem is my knees don't allow me to stand too long before the pain sets in. Oh well another 7 weeks today before operaton 1 to rectify the knees and boy I'm so looking forward to it. Enough of my grizzles but it has been so fustrating not been able to work for a living but still in too much pain to even go out into the garage and work on the bucket. Life can be a sh*t sadwich at times and this site has been a god send to help keep me a little crazy.

Ya know Whiplash, if it wasn't for the craziness on here, a lot of us would go insane. (oh oh, wonder if that will open up the door for Bob to sneak a shot in?)

Don

I see he's off line at the moment, give him a chance.

Jack.

Shhhhhh. Be very quiet or he might wake up.

Don

Actually it has been the good old fashion ribbing,humor and Uncle Bob and Richards' ability to found and post those hilarious photos that I have so enjoyed even on my worst day. Kurt and yourself with the pet stories add some light relief also. I guess that is another reason I so enjoy this site compared to the other car ones.. Just a core lot of really great amazing friendly knowledgeable people on here that somehow always makes me smile and I think life is good after all. So again,thankyou guys for every thing and especially for this site that is "Great People,Great Cars, Great Fun"